Experts predict: the Rio 2016 Olympic archery champions

Journalists, pundits and archers – past and present – pick who they think will climb the archery podium at the Olympics.

The Rio 2016 Olympic archery competition starts on 5 August with the ranking round.

On 6 August, the men’s team gold medal will be decided, with the women’s following on 7 August. Individual eliminations play out on 8-10 August, then the women’s finals take place on 11 August and men’s on 12 August.

Here’s who our panel of experts think will be walking away with Olympic Champion titles from Rio 2016…

John Stanley
Journalist and blogger

“Chinese Taipei is one of the few squads that has what it takes to rattle the Koreans, and Tan Ya-Ting is the stand-out star. She beat Ki Bo Bae and Chang Hye Jin in Antalya this year,” said John.

“Choi Misun is still the strong favourite, but I reckon Tan Ya-Ting could easily make the podium and even win it.”

He also said that Ku Bonchan had the most “ferocious spirit”, the USA men seem to be peaking at the right time – and that the biggest surprise in Rio could be hosts Brazil.

“They have some excellent shooters, the crowd behind them and will be unfazed by the possibly tricky conditions in the Sambodromo. If they qualify solidly, I hope they manage to get stuck in and go deep,” he explained.

Sara Lopez
World #1 compound archer / Colombia

Sjef, said world number one compounder Sara, has been shooting better and better at each tournament in the months leading up to the Games.

“He is so mentally strong – and that’s the most important thing for winning,” she added. If anyone knows about that – it’s Sara.

Of Ki Bo Bae, she said the Korean winner in London was a “legend”, who shoots with an “incredible” style and looks “so calm and confident in every shot”.

The 2015 Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion, Miguel Alvarino Garcia, would be the tournament’s biggest surprise in the men’s competition, said Sara – while both Mackenzie Brown and Ana Maria Rendon have a shot in the women’s.

Carl Arky
TV Commentator

“A cool customer,” Carl said of Lee Seungyun, the 2013 World Archery Champion. “Not phased or intimidated by the setting or his opponent.”

Tan Ya-Ting or Chinese Taipei teammate Le Chien-Ying have the tools to upset the Korean women, Carl added, as neither has the same pressure and both have proven themselves capable of competing against and with the best in the world.

In the team events, though, Carl sees no such upset on the horizon.

“Korea has too much talent, depth, experience and mental fortitude for other teams to overcome,” he explained.

Dean Alberga
Photographer

The man that’s arguably closest to the action, even from behind the lens, said he’s seen Sjef train – “and wow” – knows Brady’s confidence and sees Kim and Ku as men’s contenders, but picks Lee Seungyun above them all.

Choi Misun, said Dean, “demonstrates archery as it should be – seemingly effortless and highly accurate.”

The archery competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games starts on the 5 August in the Sambodromo.